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01/10/2009 Richard's Ramblings - October

I have noticed that one of the differences between the Education system in Australia and here, is the way in which we deal with teaching Religious Education in Schools. In Australia, the classroom teacher is not allowed to reflect in any overt way a religious perspective or values system.

In other words, the theory is that children will be educated in such a way that the material being taught is not confused by the teaching of values. There seemed to have been the opinion that information could be conveyed without colouring it by any particular set of values, morals or ethical perspectives. I would understand that the thinking had been that we then leave our children, or whoever is being educated, free to form their own values framework.

In some ways this goal seems admirable. There is no question that it is preferable for people to make their views their own and not simply copy the views of others or have others views imposed upon them. However, I believe that we do convey values, whether we like it or not. In fact, I would suggest that when we try to divest our teaching of our own values we create an environment in which the message we give often becomes totally changed from that which was intended.

For example, we may be trying to shield our young people from being ruled by our values, encouraging them to search out their own and in the process unintentionally leave them feeling that we really don’t care. It is a strange thing but there are times when our youth will rebel against the imposition of our expectations upon them, yet if we, in response, cease to expect certain things from them, they will interpret it as meaning we don’t really care.

It may not be the most popular thing to be saying in this day and age, but there is a growing body of thought which suggests that young people do, deep down inside, want and need boundaries to be set by parents, teachers and other important adults in their lives. It is one important means of conveying the fact that we do love them; we do really care.

A balanced open approach to dealing with the development of a person’s value system is absolutely necessary. But remember, you will be conveying a message and it may not be the one you really want given if you are not prepared to show you actually believe in what you stand for. remember, you be conveying a message and it may not be the one you really want given if you are not prepared to show you actually believe in what you stand for.

Rev Richard Johnston
October 2009

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